At RAWLE & HENDERSON LLP our attorneys defend both personal injury and property damage claims arising out of the construction process. They are experienced in the law as well as actual construction techniques since several have backgrounds in the building industry. This allows for a comprehensive defense of owners, developers, trade contractors, construction managers, architects and design and engineering professionals.

RAWLE & HENDERSON lawyers are well versed in the complex contractual provisions for indemnity and insurance obligations flowing amongst owners, general contractors, prime contractors and subcontractors. These contract issues frequently require initiation or defense of declaratory judgment actions to define these obligations.

The Firm’s attorneys are also well versed in the legal defenses available in construction-related litigation and regularly develop strategies in such areas as worker’s compensation immunity for employers, the statutory employer defense for general contractors and the peculiar risk exception to the rule of non-liability for a property owner for general contractor’s activities.

For all phases of construction, RAWLE & HENDERSON can provide experienced assistance and advice.

In February 2008, masonry restoration contractor Kevin Waggle began underpinning the basement party wall of a home in historic Old City Philadelphia as part of a basement renovation project. Underpinning is a process of digging and filling pockets underneath the brick wall of the home and filling them with concrete after lowering the floor to provide structural support for the wall.

In February 2008, masonry contractor Kevin Waggle began underpinning the basement party wall of a home in Old City Philadelphia. After excavating part of the basement floor, Waggle began digging underpinning pockets. The same day he started the first three pockets, the neighboring property owner had his own contractor remove sidewalk bricks and concrete in front of his home using a jackhammer and sledgehammer.